Commentary: Jaworski eats up film in advance of Texans gameCommentator for MNF knows roster like coach

Published 6:30 am, Thursday, November 27, 2008

Ron Jaworski (left), shown in 2003, has chewed up a lot of film in advance of Monday's game between the Texans and Jaguars.

Ron Jaworski (left), shown in 2003, has chewed up a lot of film in advance of Monday's game between the Texans and Jaguars.

Photo: GENE J. PUSKAR, AP

McClain: Jaworski breaks down film on Texans

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ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski has been watching tapes of every Texans and Jaguars game in preparation for their Monday Night Football game at Reliant Stadium.

After playing quarterback for 15 years, including 10 with Philadelphia, he’s worked so hard at his profession that he’s become as good as any color commentator in sports at any level.

Jaworski is a film freak. To prepare for his job in the booth with Mike Tirico and Tony Kornheiser, Jaworski watches so much tape he feels like a coach developing a game plan.

Because Jaworski has been analyzing the Texans, I asked him Wednesday for his opinions on some of the players, beginning with quarterbacks Matt Schaub and Sage Rosenfels.

“When your quarterback’s out, it really affects your consistency,” he said about Schaub. “I think Schaub has a really good upside. He just needs to play more and stay healthy.

“I see a solid quarterback, mechanically — knows where to go with the ball, has good pocket awareness and good vision downfield. I see very few flaws in his game except for repetitions on the field to get experience.

“Sage made two mistakes in the Cleveland game, and both were interceptions. You can’t make those kinds of mistakes. It’s things like that I’m sure are very frustrating for (coach) Gary (Kubiak).

“I thought Sage had a terrific game, but at the end of the day, those mistakes can kill you. Cleveland didn’t have the firepower to take advantage of them, but good teams make you pay a price for those mistakes.”

Focus on Johnson

I didn’t have to bring up Andre Johnson, who leads the NFL with 81 catches for 1,071 yards.

“The one guy I had so much fun watching the last day-and-a-half is Johnson,” Jaworski said. “He’s a phenomenal player. I’ve watched all 81 of his catches. I’m watching a real pro. He’s big and tough with great hands. He can run by people in a heartbeat.

“(Running back Steve) Slaton has a chance to be a real good back. He gives them the speed and quickness you need. As far as a one-cut, down-hill guy, he’s terrific.”

“Overall, I think the offensive line has to play better. At times they look very good. At times they look very average. I think it’s a matter of consistency up front.”

“Brown is very athletic,” he said. “They can pull him and let him get out front in the running game. He has the potential to be a very good one. It’s a matter of him getting experience.

“It’s a young group up front, outside of (left guard Chester) Pitts. They’re going to grow together.”

Not so super

Jaworski charted the blitzes defensive coordinator Richard Smith has called in every game.

“Pressure has to be a major component of your defensive attack,” he said.

“Quarterbacks will slice you up if you give them 3½ seconds. Against Cleveland, they blitzed 11 times and had three completed. They blitzed Indianapolis three times in two games. They blitzed Jacksonville three times in the first game.

“Let’s see, they blitzed Pittsburgh four times, Tennessee 11, Miami six, Detroit 10, Cincinnati four, Minnesota three and Baltimore eight. The pressure component has to be part of your package. There’s risk and reward, as we all know. I’d like to see more zone blitzes.”

Pressure on the quarterback begins — and often ends — with defensive end Mario Williams.

“Mario’s a very good player (but), he’s not a dominant guy,” Jaworski said. “He’s more of a bull-rushing guy. He’s very talented, but he doesn’t have that explosive first step to get around the corner and really force that defensive tackle to turn his shoulders and run.

“They get great effort out of Mario. He’s a hustler who works hard. I just don’t see that initial quick pressure. If you’re going to play a safe defense — rush four, drop seven or rush three, drop eight — you’ve got to have that one guy up front who can get the quick pressure on the quarterback and make him flinch. It hasn’t been there on a consistent basis.”